My midlife crisis purchase; E86 BMW Z4 Coupe

My midlife crisis purchase; E86 BMW Z4 Coupe

Author
Discussion

Gad-Westy

14,739 posts

216 months

Jhonno said:
Court_S said:
Jhonno said:
No headlight washers with xenons is an MOT failure is it not?
Dunno. My 335i and 130i both passed MOT’s with them turned off.
Pretty sure it is, one of the reason retrofit HID etc kits were technically not MOT compliant. They mentioned headlight washers when I had my 330i MOT'd, but as they know me the comment was "I assume they work".

However, doesn't look like your tester is concerned about it, so all good.
Lack of self-levelling is also a biggie for aftermarket HID's. I suspect this is all very low risk though.

Court_S

Original Poster:

13,394 posts

180 months

InitialDave said:
MOT manual section 4.1.6 does list inspection of headlamp washers, but carries the caveat of it being for vehicls after 01/09/2009, and it's a minor if they don't work on normal headlights, major for LED or HID.

So on a pre-2009 it's not technically an inspection criteria.
That’ll be why it’s not been an issue then; all of my cars with xenon’s have been pre ‘09.

Jhonno

5,845 posts

144 months

InitialDave said:
MOT manual section 4.1.6 does list inspection of headlamp washers, but carries the caveat of it being for vehicls after 01/09/2009, and it's a minor if they don't work on normal headlights, major for LED or HID.

So on a pre-2009 it's not technically an inspection criteria.
Fair enough.. Slightly jumbled recollection then.

Mr Tidy

22,964 posts

130 months

Court_S said:
It was an impressive amount of crack in there but to be honest the one on my car wasn’t much better. Both filters were covered in black sludge too.

I have no idea why the EU cars got the side reflectors. The US needs them by law I think. They’d look so much better without them. Mine will blend in soon enough.

No luck on the idle flutter on the electrical issue so far. I think I’m going to pull the manifold once more just to check. It’s booked in with an Indy on the 9th and an auto electrician on 11th.

I also need to decide what to do about my fog lights. Up close they’re absolutely gone; the reflectors are nothing but rust and there is a cream cheese like substance behind the lenses. I think I’ll for blanking plates because I don’t really use them, new ones are bloody expensive and used ones will probably be shagged.
Mine had green algae on the pump filters before I cleaned them!

It does seem strange they fitted the side reflectors to EU cars when they were only required in the States.

Good luck getting the idle flutter sorted. thumbup

The foglights are a PITA. Used ones are probably a false economy as they'll go the same way, and despite the price new ones will eventually! Blanking plates are probably the best option. I really can't remember the last time I used front foglights anyway, which is lucky because Z4Ms don't have them!

I had read about pre-2009 cars not needing headlamp washers for the MOT before I disable mine and it has passed 3 MOTs like that. I probably need to disable them on my 330i before one starts leaking. rolleyes

Court_S

Original Poster:

13,394 posts

180 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Mr Tidy said:
Mine had green algae on the pump filters before I cleaned them!

It does seem strange they fitted the side reflectors to EU cars when they were only required in the States.

Good luck getting the idle flutter sorted. thumbup

The foglights are a PITA. Used ones are probably a false economy as they'll go the same way, and despite the price new ones will eventually! Blanking plates are probably the best option. I really can't remember the last time I used front foglights anyway, which is lucky because Z4Ms don't have them!

I had read about pre-2009 cars not needing headlamp washers for the MOT before I disable mine and it has passed 3 MOTs like that. I probably need to disable them on my 330i before one starts leaking. rolleyes
This was a black gunge that absolutely stunk. Bloody horrible. It’s all gone now courtesy of Milton.

I was poking around the engine bay with a torch last night and I noticed that under one of the hose connectors that runs under the manifold, there is oil vapour/ spray. I can’t quite work out if it is from the pipe connector or the right angle connector that the pipe connects to which is removable and sealed by an o-ring.

It’s around part 7 in the diagram below where I can see oil. I don’t recall it being oily before….




Looks like I’ll be pulling the manifold again….I’m getting quite good at it now. laugh

Failing that, it’s booked in for a garage to look at it on 9th.

Court_S

Original Poster:

13,394 posts

180 months

Saturday
quotequote all
I headed up to Kedleston Country House for a local car thing with a friend in his Caterham R400.

The Z4 was washed before and I fitted the painted side reflectors which still need polishing.





The colour match isn’t 100% but it cost £15 to do.

Sticks.

8,887 posts

254 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Re your uneven idle, don't the air hoses have a reputation for leaks and cracks? Mine whistles at certain speeds, but runs OK. Sorry if you've already done that but I always think do the easiest/cheapest checks first.

Gallons Per Mile

1,957 posts

110 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Re your exploded diagram above; if oil's getting out then air can get in. You might have found the problem! Did you disturb that bit when you did the CCV?

Court_S

Original Poster:

13,394 posts

180 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Sticks. said:
Re your uneven idle, don't the air hoses have a reputation for leaks and cracks? Mine whistles at certain speeds, but runs OK. Sorry if you've already done that but I always think do the easiest/cheapest checks first.
Is that on an N52 powered car or the early M54 powered cars?

Court_S

Original Poster:

13,394 posts

180 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Gallons Per Mile said:
Re your exploded diagram above; if oil's getting out then air can get in. You might have found the problem! Did you disturb that bit when you did the CCV?
Only to unplug the old hose and plug in a new one. The hise that looks like oil vapour can escape is this one.


Gallons Per Mile

1,957 posts

110 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Yep, if that's not sealing properly you've got an air leak. That could well the the issue.

Court_S

Original Poster:

13,394 posts

180 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Gallons Per Mile said:
Yep, if that's not sealing properly you've got an air leak. That could well the the issue.
It’s the only connection that’s not been checked to be honest. It was a sod to remove and get back in place. I’ll pull the manifold one night this week (again) and have a poke around.

Sticks.

8,887 posts

254 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Court_S said:
Is that on an N52 powered car or the early M54 powered cars?
I'd have thought both, and more to do with the age they are. I only mention it because it's come up a lot over the years and it's easy to check before you do anything complicated.

Court_S

Original Poster:

13,394 posts

180 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Sticks. said:
I'd have thought both, and more to do with the age they are. I only mention it because it's come up a lot over the years and it's easy to check before you do anything complicated.
It seems to be quite common on the M series engines hence my question. I’ve had a look at my intake pipe but can’t see anything.

Other than the cold idle it’s running pretty well and fuel economy has gone up. It’s marginal, buts it’s higher.

ST565NP

581 posts

85 months

Saturday
quotequote all
Court_S said:
Other than the cold idle it’s running pretty well and fuel economy has gone up. It’s marginal, buts it’s higher.
Maybe because of the hotter weather ?